Saswata Saha

Exploring the Vibrant Traditions of Pohela Boishakh: Welcoming the Bengali New Year with Joy and Festivity

The colours of spring and the pleasant weather are the moments when we get ready to celebrate the beginning of the new year. There is also a custom in India's diverse culture to double this happiness! This time, let us get immersed in the symbolic New Year – Pohela Boishakh and the festival celebration of Punjab – Baisakhi. Both these festivals not only give a glimpse of the auspicious beginning of the new year, but also fascinate us and Saket with their uniqueness. 
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<h3>Table of Contents</h3>
1.About Pohela Boishakh 2.Significance of Pohela Boishakh 3.Tradition that are followed on Pohela Boishakh 4.Pohela Boishakh special cuisine that are traditionally followed 5.Prabhat Pheri of Pohela Boishakh 6.Pohela Boishakh in other states 7.Significance of Baisakhi 8.Pohela Boishakh puja vidhi 9.Astrological relation of Pohela Boishakh 10.Puja at famous temple with Utsav
<h3>About Pohela Boishakh </h3>
Pohela Boishakh is celebrated as Bengali’s new year as well as the official calendar of Bangladesh, and is observed annually on April 14 as Bengali New Year's Day in Bangladesh. April 14th, 2024, falls on a Sunday. Furthermore, this day is honoured by both Bangladesh's Muslim majority and its Hindu minority across religious lines as a state holiday.Most of the people start their new work on this day. They start their day by going to temple and taking blessings of their beloved deity. Shree Ganesh and Maa Mahalakshmi are mainly worshipped on this day for a better start of the year. On this day, people clean the house, decorate it, wear new clothes, perform puja and prepare different types of dishes. In the West Bengal region it is celebrated as State Foundation Day. This festival also marks the starting of a new calendar in Tripura and Bangladesh.
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<h3>Significance of Pohela Boishakh</h3>
Pohela Boishakh is an important festival of Bengalis. This is considered a very auspicious day for starting any new business and repaying old debts and starting afresh. To have an auspicious start to the New Year people pray to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi.People also seek blessings from their elders by touching their feet. Pohela Boishakh is not just a festival but it also symbolises a new beginning. It inspires people to keep their old heritage and start a new life. This day unites people and inspires them to build a new future. “Shubho Noboborsho", which translates to "Happy New Year" in Bengali, is the customary greeting for Bengalis on the first day of the year.

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<h3>Tradition that are followed on Pohela Boishakh </h3>
Early in the morning people clean their houses, wear new clothes and worship Gods and Goddesses. People give prominence to 'Panjika' for their home and mosque to symbolise the beginning of the new year. A special meal called 'Panchbhojan' is prepared which consists of five types of dishes. People wish each other a happy new year and distribute sweets.Cultural events are organised at many places, such as dance, music and drama. Pohela Boishakh is considered a symbol of new beginnings. People set new goals on this day and try to bring positive changes in their lives. Pohela Boishakh is a festival that symbolises hope and joy. People are performing well for the future on this day and are enjoying life. Pohela Boishakh is an important festival of the Bengali community. It brings people together and strengthens psychological feelings.

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<h3> Pohela Boishakh special cuisine that are traditionally followed </h3>
Panch Bhojan is the main meal of Pohela Boishakh. It consists of five types of dishes, including: Bhaat: This is the main food and is made from rice. Mansar Jhol: This is a meat dish that can be made of different types of meat. Ilish Macher Jhol: This is a special curry made from Ilish fish. Mach: It is a type of pickle made from different types of chips and chips. Mistanna: It is a type of sweet that can be made with a variety of ingredients. Apart from Panch Bhojan, there are many other traditional dishes that are prepared on Pohela Boishakh, which include: Luchi: It is a type of fried bed. Aloo Dum: It is a type of potato curry. Cholar Dal: This is a type of dal. Rasogolla: It is a type of sweet. Pohela Boishakh is a festive festival filled with delicious food and delicacies.
<h3>Prabhat Pheri of Pohela Boishakh</h3>
The major event, known as Prabhat Pheri, is a procession in which men and women dressed traditionally in kurtas and dhotis and Bengali women in garad saris perform cultural dances and songs on the songs of Rabindranath Tagore. Shantiniketan elevates the traditional Prabhat Pheri performed over the Ganga River in Kolkata to a whole new level. All other meals are elaborate Bengali dishes, except for a basic dish of soaked rice with fried fish, green chillies, and onion for breakfast. 
<h3>Pohela Boishakh in other states</h3>
Baisakhi is an important festival which is celebrated in different regions of India. It is considered the New Year of Sikhism and is also celebrated to mark the formation of the Khalsa Panth. The significance of this festival symbolises the joy of Rabi fish pots in North India. This year Baisakhi will be celebrated on 13 April 2024.
<h3>Significance of Baisakhi</h3>
The significance of Baisakhi lies in its religious, cultural, historical and social significance, making it an important festival celebrated by Sikhs, Hindus and other communities. The main points adding to the importance of Baisakhi are as follows: 1.Baisakhi commemorates the establishment of the Kalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699, marking the birth of the Sikh community. It is a day of spiritual significance for Sikhs, symbolising courage, sacrifice and selflessness. 2.This festival celebrates the beginning of the festival season, especially in Punjab, where it is a day of thanksgiving for the festival. It is a time to honour the rich cultural heritage of Punjab through traditional attire, dances like Bhangra and Giddha and prayers to the Gurus. 3.Baisakhi has its historical roots in the Sikh conference organised by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699, where the Kalsa Panth was initiated. This event was important in shaping the Sikh community as a religious and social group. 4.Baisakhi promotes unity, social peace and communalism. Langar sharing, where people from different backgrounds come together to share a meal, incorporates the principles of studio respect and helpfulness. It aims to bring attention to the harvest season, proclaim the hard work of farmers, and strengthen the bonds of farmers.

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<h3>Pohela Boishakh Puja Vidhi</h3>
1.On the day of Pohela Boishakh, people greet each other for the New Year by saying ‘Shubho Nobo Bosro’. During this, the younger ones also take blessings by touching the feet of the elders of the house. 2.On the day of Pohela Boishakh, there is a tradition of worshipping Mother Cow in many places in Bengal. On the first day of Bengali New Year, people bathe the cow, apply tilak on it, offer food, perform puja and then seek blessings by touching the feet of the cow. 3.On the next day of Pohela Boishakh, people worship the clouds for good rainfall. It is believed that this results in a good harvest.
<h3>Astrological relation of Pohela Boishakh</h3>
Pohela Boishakh is celebrated when the Sun enters its exalted sign i.e. Aries, then worshipping at this time, strengthens the position of the Sun in the person's horoscope. With this one attains happiness and prosperity. Let’s Know in which ways to offer prayers to the Sun on the day of Pohela Boishakh - To strengthen the position of Sun in the horoscope - According to astrology, if the position of Sun is weak in a person's horoscope, then along with Vaisakhi, one should regularly take a copper pot, add water, vermillion, Akshat and red flowers and offer Arghya to it. By doing this one also attains happiness and prosperity. To get rid of diseases - Offering Bel Patra to Lord Shiva as well as Sun God is considered auspicious. If someone in the house is more ill. If one sick person does not leave or the other one catches him, then offering Arghya to Sun God with Bel leaves will prove beneficial. Put Bel leaves along with water in a copper pot and offer Arghya. Along with this, pray for the good health of the family members.
<h3>Puja at famous temple with Utsav</h3>
Utsav app is a most loved puja app to offer Puja. Pohela Boishakh special puja will be organised at Kalighat Temple (Kolkata), Jagannath Mandir temple (Mahesh, West Bengal) and Mahalaxmi &amp; Chintamani Ganesh temple. You will book puja by clicking the link below. After booking, Pandit ji will offer puja on your behalf by chanting your Name and Gotra. After the puja video of your puja will be shared with you via WhatsApp and Prasad wil be delivered to your doorsteps.
Booking Link- <a href="https://utsavapp.in/puja/ganesh/chintamani-ganesh-varanasi?utm_medium=blog_campaign" target="_blank">click here </a>